dgold,
Please allow an old man to give you some advice here. First of all, let me say that the exhaust heat and lack of traction control are the least of your worries. The first can be easily fixed with exhaust mods; the second, well, in a car with 500+hp, frankly, it serves mainly to induce false confidence in a novice driver. Drive a Viper properly, and you won't need it; drive it improperly, and all the electronic nannies in the world won't save your bacon. If you like the car, and can afford it, by all means, get one; I'm on my fourth Snake, and have enjoyed every one. Now that we have that out of the way; let's talk about what is REALLY important here: keeping your Viper, and you, in one piece.
As you put it, this is "not all that complicated", but there are a few pieces of "not all that complicated" knowledge that many of us here have accumulated from years of driving ultra-high performance cars which just might be worth your attention. The cause of most Viper crashes can be found between the seat, and the steering wheel. Failure to believe that can and has caused more than a few before you to become unfortunate statistics. Here are some things that may help keep you from becoming one of them:
ATTITUDE - A small amount of nagging fear in the back of your mind is a GOOD thing. This is a serious car, different from anything you have driven. It absolutely DEMANDS your respect at all times, whether you are an experienced competitor, or a sports car novice, whether you are 24, or 64. This means that before you strap in, shut the door, and push the start button, you make sure you park your ego outside, and leave it there. Ego, and showing off, have caused a number of crashes.
EXPERIENCE - If you have it, it won't hurt to get more; if you don't have it, get it. Go to a good racing/high performance driving school, and absorb what you learn there. This will not only make you a better driver on the street; it will also give you the basic competence to start tracking the car. There is no way you can safely fully enjoy or appreciate the performance capabilities of a Viper on public roads; the street is a far more dangerous environment than the track!
FOCUS - It is a very, very bad idea to drive a Viper with your mind and body not fully engaged with the task. This means your hands need to be on the wheel and gearshift only, not occupied with eating, drinking, a cell phone, or anything else (that includes your girlfriend), and your mind needs to be fully alert and paying attention, not off woolgathering. The Viper is very sensitive to sudden inputs, whether steering, throttle, or brake; handle her roughly, or carelessly, and she can be a harsh, unforgiving, and jealous mistress.
TIRES - TIRES are absolutely CRITICAL on a Viper. Should you get an 05 or 06, it may well have its original runflats. Change them immediately! No matter how good the tread, CHANGE THEM! Old tires get hard, and don't grip as well, and those four contact patches, (which have less area than your own hands and feet), are the only thing holding your Snake (and you) to the road. Check your tire pressures each time you gas up (at a minimum). Also be sure to get your tires properly warmed up before doing anything enthusiastic with the throttle; cold tires and sudden throttle application are a "Viper Bite" waiting to happen! It is quite possible to do a 180 degree (or more) spin under these circumstances (yes, at 30mph in 2nd gear, and in a straight line!), as many before you have learned, the hard way! Read it, and believe it!
SELF-CONTROL=CAR CONTROL - I'd tell you this, if you were twice your stated age! Some people do stupid things around a Viper! Expect everything from challenges to race, to comments, to stares, to aggressive driving by others. NEVER, EVER, respond to this with more than a rev and a friendly wave! You can't control what idiots do, but you CAN control what YOU do; it's not worth losing your license, not worth wrecking your Snake, and definitely not worth your life (or anyone else's). If you're going to drive a serious driver's car, act like a serious driver: be polite, be courteous, be friendly, be safe! Don't let pride in your ride make you act like a ****!
I tell you these things, not to discourage you, but to keep you safe, and to remind you that with great horsepower comes great responsibility. Every one of us here was once a newbie too. We want you to be a part of the Viper Nation; a live, safe, responsible part!
Now, good luck with the search!
I dont see how anyone at this point still cares to take your posts on a serious note. Oh, and BTW, that Lambo doesnt look like a manual tranny. I see NO shifter.
What kind of person brags about his gf when asking advice about buying a Viper anyway?
